"PUNDITS ARE WRITING ABOUT ME, BUT THEY'VE NEVER SEEN ME ON THE GROUND": DION

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE LEADER OF THE LIBERAL PARTY

by Angelo Persichilli
THE HILL TIMES

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, who's battling for his political life, took aim at his Liberal critics last week, saying their loyalties are misplaced and that their complaints are a waste of time.

Are you happy with the way this campaign is going?
"Yes, in the sense that I'm fighting for my convictions. We meet Canadians and it always seems that we share the same values, the same objectives and we need to win this election. I fully disagree with the orientation that Mr. Harper is giving to this country. The action plan we are proposing will improve many things in this country. It will create jobs at a time when the economy is slowing down and will prepare us for future actions."

Do you think that your message on the Green Shift is reaching people?
"Many people believe that this is a tax and, in fact, don't see that we are saying the contrary. What we are saying is that when we are paying differently, we are going to be strong collectively as a country."

Many say that it's a complex proposal.
"It's not difficult to understand: cut the tax, shift it to pollution. It's good for the economy. It's good for the planet. Furthermore, it works and, in Europe, it is not a left-wing idea. In fact, right-wing parties are asking for more. Jack Layton's idea is liked because many don't understand it; in fact, it brings more tax. And Harper's idea cannot even be considered as a plan for the environment; and it also consists of a taxation for the companies that will transfer that taxation partially onto the consumers. Basically everybody will increase taxes and only the Liberals will reduce them. It's very simple to understand. Economists and environmentalists agree with us."

Do you believe that, being an academic, this makes it difficult for the people to understand your message? In other words, are you not talking, contrary to Jean Chrétien, like ordinary people?
"My relationship with the people on the ground is very positive. I don't know how many politicians can handle a two-hour town hall meeting like me, answering questions without a safety net. A few days ago I was in a town hall meeting and there were so many people that the RCMP was concerned and we couldn't accept more people. I believe that many pundits are writing because they have never seen me on the ground. They are quoting each other, they are living each other, but they never saw me on the ground. They never went out of their offices to see what I'm able to do with Canadian people in terms of a relationship."

Immigration is an important issue for this country. Can you be more specific about what you want to do to solve the mess we are in?
"We have a very compelling policy for immigration. ...First, you need to respect the process and what the present government wants to do is to give arbitrary power to the minister of Immigration. Definitely we are against it. Second, we need to tackle the backlog. Money is not always the solution, but sometimes it helps. What we have now is a data gathering process that is so out of date and we need to invest in it to speed up the entire process. We will invest $400-million. The other problem is the point system. We need now more trade workers and less PhDs. Then we will deal with people that are already here, like the temporary workers, foreign students and foreign caregivers, and it will be easier for them to adapt to this country. We would give them a fast track, a real one. Then we will invest in language skills. Many newcomers don't speak English or French and they need help."

Do you see the possibility of an amnesty for undocumented workers?
"We will look at that. I know that the problem of amnesty, but Maurizio Bevilacqua is looking at an idea that is not that far and I don't want to send the wrong message but, at the same time, these workers are here and we can't forever close our eyes to the reality, and Maurizio has a solution for that. The other problem is related to foreign credentials and the need to help people to have their credentials recognized. Often they just need a simple course. We will invest $200- million to help them and we will work closer with the provinces."

Some disgruntled Liberals are not happy with your leadership and the campaign. Did anyone tell you personally about the problems they see?
"No. We are all working together."

So, nobody complained to you?
"No, we don't have time for that. We are working hard, we are fighting to win. And, if there are people that are complaining, nobody is stopping them from helping. They could go out and explain our platform to the people. When they talk to journalists to complain, why don't they use the opportunity to explain our platform? We don't have the time for that. I see grassroots people working hard and they are not pleased with those complaining. There are many ways to be included and there are no excuses. When the leader makes a decision, whether you agree or not, you make sure that you help the leader as much as possible. That's what I did with Mr. Chrétien and Mr. Martin; I wasn't in the newspapers complaining, but I worked hard in my riding, in the committees and, when the election came, I worked hard in the campaign. That's the way I am, and that's the way most Canadians are. We are not a country of complainers, otherwise we wouldn't have the quality of life we are enjoying."


If you had the possibility to go back to the Liberal Leadership convention in December 2006 in Montreal, what would you do different?

"Nobody is perfect. There would be things done differently, but, sincerely, I have no time for that. I want to win the race for my country and stress the big difference between the very right agenda of [Stephen Harper] and [the more progressive agendas of] Kim Campbell and Joe Clark. The fact that they were also progressive in the past was not just in the name. We want to bring all the progressive forces behind our party."